An A-10C Thunderbolt II from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., flies overhead during a training flight at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Dec. 3, 2014. The austere conditions of the missile range allow for pilots to get a close simulation of a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Chris Massey/Released)

An A-10C Thunderbolt II from the 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., approaches a landing strip during training at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Dec. 4, 2014. The purpose of the training was to upgrade a select cadre of pilots from the 354th FS with unimproved landings on a dry lake bed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Chris Massey/Released)

U.S. Air Force combat controllers from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla., perform air traffic control radio transmissions to an A-10C Thunderbolt II pilot of the 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., approaching an austere landing strip during training at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Dec. 4, 2014. The combat controllers set up the landing strip as part of their initial and reoccurring training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Chris Massey/Released))

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Jesse Galt, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron Gold Team assistant team leader based out of Hurlburt Field, Fla., observes an A-10C Thunderbolt II of the 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., approaching a covert landing strip at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Dec. 4, 2014. The landing strip was lined with infrared lights that could only be viewed with the aid of a night vision device. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Chris Massey/Released)

U.S. Air Force combat controllers from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla., perform air traffic control radio transmissions to an A-10C Thunderbolt II pilot of the 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., approaching an austere landing strip during training at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Dec. 4, 2014. The combat controllers set up the landing strip as part of their initial and reoccurring training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Chris Massey/Released)

Four A-10C Thunderbolt IIs from the 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., sit on the flightline at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., after a training flight at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Dec. 3, 2014. The austere conditions of the missile range allow for pilots to get a close simulation of a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Chris Massey/Released)

An A-10C Thunderbolt II takes to the sky for the first time after being grounded for two months at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Ariz., Dec. 5, 2014. On Sept. 30, this aircraft came in for a routine landing, but the landing gear failed to extend. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson)